how long for 08 torts

[naomij]

i was thinking of putting y torts int he fridge beg jan til march, the coldest months, yet my outside torts are winding themselves down right now, still eating, apart from one who is sleeping alot more than the others, temps are ok, i have over night heating on at night also yet im still struggling a little , esp as i never wanted to wind them down for another month.

so what i am asking is , they are 08 torts, all weigh between 80-100g, how long do you let yours hibernate for at this age, should i fridge them earlier and start wind down from now, but this means an extra month on hibernation or carry on as i am and aim for 8 weeks asleep?

[purplepixie]

Eight weeks minimum if all is well. If they have not lost any or little weight then another two weeks would be good. Just make sure you monitor closely during this time. This is how long all my small tortoises have for their first few years of hiberntion. Once they get to about three then they have the same time as adults, all being well.

[naomij]

thank you, so its best to try to avoid wind down just yet i take it, i have just bathed and fed them all, all have eaten, even the one who has slowed down the most.

i so do not wish to bring them in, the shed is large, heated and its there home, i recall taylor sulking when i moved her in as shes ill, so i do not want to do an inside set up, plus when its not raining, they still go outside for a bit, unless you all think they should be inside now??

[Mrs Mental]

When I hibernated my spur thighs last year they were 2 years old and I wound down for 3 weeks and hibernated them for 8 weeks + 2 weeks as gtheir weight loss was minimal